BEREA, Ohio — In keeping with his philosophy, Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said the Browns won't load up in free agency after it opens Tuesday at 4 p.m.

"You guys know how I feel about free agency," he said during an informal chat with reporters Thursday. "I think everybody else is on board with it. We're not going to go crazy in free agency. We're not going to do it."

He said the team has targeted several players it thinks can help, but isn't expecting them to make or break the team.

"I know Green Bay didn't sign one free agent when they won [the Super Bowl] two years ago," he said. "I don't think the Giants signed anybody, or at least anybody you've ever heard of as a free agent.

Heckert virtually ruled out any interest in Texans premier pass-rusher Mario Williams when he said: "I don't think there's a [Hall-of-Famer such as] Reggie White in this free agency. If there was, I'd go after him in a heartbeat. I just don't think there is."

He said the Browns will try to re-sign all of their own free agents, including running back Peyton Hillis, safety Mike Adams and cornerback Dimitri Patterson.

Heckert said he would like to sign some before free agency starts, but he also said the Browns probably won't talk to Hillis' agent until after Hillis hits the market.

Heckert said the Browns are more likely to sign solid contributors such as Patterson, than big-name starters. "I think Dimitri helped us last year a lot," he said. "Dimitri played almost 50 percent of the plays, maybe more."

Heckert said linebacker Marcus Benard is under contract and not set to be an unrestricted free agent.

Pashos surgery: Right tackle Tony Pashos, who missed the first three games of last season with a left ankle injury, had surgery on the ankle Tuesday and his status with the Browns for 2012 is uncertain. Pashos, 31, battled through the season on the sore ankle and never used it as an excuse.

Dawson not thrilled? Heckert said he hasn't yet talked to kicker Phil Dawson about franchising him again for 2012.

Dawson, who was also franchised last season, is set to make $3.8 million this season, but might have been interested in testing the market. Heckert said he left Dawson a message but he hasn't heard back from him.

On Tannehill: Heckert offered this assessment of Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who could be available to the Browns somewhere in the first round: "I think he's untapped. He's a guy fairly new to the position, was playing wide receiver. He's a big kid, strong arm, he's another guy that looks like a quarterback. I think he's got a lot of upside to him. I really do."

On Richardson: Heckert praised Alabama running back Trent Richardson: "He's a big, tough, physical runner. We really like him. He can pass-protect, he's a smart kid. Obviously people are going to compare him to [Mark] Ingram and they're very similar. I think he's probably going to run a little faster than Ingram did, I think. We'll wait and see. They're both really good players. That's amazing those two guys came out of the same school."

Kiper notes: Mel Kiper Jr. said on a conference call that the Browns will probably have to outbid the Redskins for the Rams' No. 2 pick and that Redskins owner Dan Snyder knows how to "win the off-season." He added that Snyder "has a history of throwing draft choices out the window." Kiper said Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden would be taken between No. 10 and No. 15 if he were 22 instead of 28 . . . Kiper said Akron native Whitney Mercilus, who led the nation with 16 sacks at Illinois, could go between No. 18 and No. 22 and could be a good fit for the Browns, who have the 22nd pick.

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